History

Thousands of years ago, the area where Taipei now stands was a =
lake.=20
Over centuries, the lake dried up, becoming a dry basin punctuated =
with=20
swamps and grassy lowlands. The people of the Pingpu tribe - =
probably=20
descended from Pacific Islanders - who lived in the elevated areas =
surrounding the basin, fished in the area in canoes. A few hundred =
years=20
ago, a group of Han Chinese settled in the area. They also used =
the=20
waterways to fish, keeping to the banks of the Tamsui River some =
distance=20
from modern Taipei.

In 1790, a farmer from Fukien Province on the mainland =
established a=20
farm at Takala in what is now central Taipei. This was the =
beginning of a=20
large-scale migration to the area, and led to the formation of =
several=20
settlements. The most concentrated area of settlement - the =
earliest in=20
the Taipei area - was known as Manka. Other locations including=20
Talungtung, Sungshan and Shihlin also became populated by Chinese =
mainland=20
communities. Control of the emerging city of Taipei was divided =
among=20
immigrants from different areas of mainland China. This broad=20
power-sharing led to frequent armed clashes. After a large battle =
in 1853,=20
settlers from Chuanchou fled north to Tataocheng on the banks of =
the=20
Tamsui River; their farming efforts eventually led to a new and =
prosperous=20
community which dominated Manka by the late 19th century. The =
Tamsui River=20
brought commerce and prosperity, with trade in tea and camphor =
taking=20
place along the waterfront. Both Manka and Tataocheng sprang up =
because of=20
their proximity to the Tamsui River, which is regarded as the =
cradle of=20
Taipei. It was not only the vital force behind the development of =
early=20
Taipei, but also served as a major artery in the city's subsequent =
development.

In 1875, the Prefecture of Taipei was established in what is =
now the=20
Chungcheng District of the city. Taipei's early construction was =
based on=20
traditional Chinese geomancy, with walls to the east and west, =
mountains=20
surrounding and the Hsintien River as the required body of water =
in front.=20
The city faced north-south with the four main walls penetrated by =
five=20
city gates. The area within walls was referred to as =
Cheng-nei=20
('inside the city walls'). The Ching Dynasty established =
administrative=20
and financial agencies in the fledgling city and when the Japanese =
colonized Taiwan in 1895, they also set up administrative =
headquarters in=20
Taipei and continued to develop the city. Under the management of =
its=20
different rulers the area within the city walls has evolved from =
wide open=20
countryside into the administrative, economic and cultural center =
of=20
Taiwan in just 100 years.

Japanese rule was harsh, and led to widespread dissatisfaction =
from the=20
Taiwanese. During this time, though, the Japanese built roads and=20
infrastructure, developing Taiwan as it would any other Japanese =
city.=20
With WWII came allied bombing and the destruction of much of this=20
infrastructure, and by the end of the war, the economy of Taiwan =
was in=20
ruins. Under the Yalta Agreement at the end of the war, Taiwan =
came under=20
Chinese rule. Taiwanese happiness at getting rid of the Japanese =
didn't=20
last long, with the corrupt General Chen Yi sent from China as =
governor.=20
In 1947 anti-Chinese riots broke out and were brutally repressed: =
as many=20
as 30,000 civilians were killed. Until the lifting of martial law =
in 1987,=20
this incident - known as '2-28' - was a forbidden topic.

When the Communists took over China in 1949, the Chinese ruler, =
Chiang=20
Kaishek, moved his government to Taiwan: thus began the 'two =
Chinas' saga.=20
The PRC (mainland China) became entangled in the Korean War, so =
the=20
anticipated invasion of the ROC (Taiwan) never took place. The ROC =
government always claimed that their presence in Taipei was =
temporary, but=20
that until they re-took the mainland, no political opposition was =
allowed.=20
Although they weren't popular with many native Taiwanese, the ROC=20
government was embarking on a successful rebuilding program. With =
rapid=20
industrialisation in the 1960s, Taiwan became one of the =
wealthiest=20
countries in Asia.

In 1971 the ROC lost the China United Nations seat to the =
mainland and=20
in 1979 the US - and most other countries - withdrew recognition =
of the=20
ROC government. Unofficially, however, most countries support =
Taiwan=20
continuing to govern itself in a spirit of unflagging capitalism. =
In 1986=20
political reform was given a much-needed boost with opposition =
parties=20
taking seats in the Taiwanese legislature, and when martial law =
was lifted=20
in 1987 things looked good. Moving into high-tech industries, the =
country=20
quickly shed the old stigma attached to the 'Made in Taiwan' =
label, and=20
managed to largely overcome the recent Asian economic crisis.

In 1994 the ROC began lobbying the UN for a seat. To the =
mainland, this=20
was a clear declaration of independence. A few missiles crashing =
into the=20
sea 25km (15mi) off the Taiwanese coast did nothing to dampen the =
island's=20
resolve; they even invited the Dalai Lama for a six-day visit in =
1997.=20
Taipei was mildly affected by the 1999 earthquake that hit the =
centre of=20
Taiwan.

Taipei continues to be the centre point for tense =
communications with=20
China regarding the 'One China' policy. Taiwan's new president =
Chen=20
Shui-bian recently proposed a meeting with China to discuss =
reconcilation,=20
however the Chinese Foreign Ministry said Taiwan must accept it =
was a part=20
of China before anything could be discussed.

Disclaimer: We've tried to make the information on this web =
site as=20
accurate as possible, but it is provided 'as is' and we accept no=20
responsibility for any loss, injury or inconvenience sustained by =
anyone=20
resulting from this information. You should verify critical =
information=20
like visas, health and safety, customs, and transportation) with =
the=20
relevant authorities before you =
travel.